It isn't just Jurgen Klopp who has had to cope with having key players missing through injury at Liverpool this season.
At the Academy, the progress of several youngsters has been hampered by untimely setbacks that have often led to lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Among those was James Balagizi, the powerful 17-year-old attacking midfielder who sat out more than two months of action in the New Year with an ankle problem.
Balagizi, though, has now started to rediscover the form that saw him catch the eye on his breakthrough with the Reds under-18s last season.
And after five assists in his last three U18 Premier League North matches, he notched his first competitive goals of the campaign in emphatic fashion with a hat-trick in the 5-1 FA Youth Cup fifth round win at Leicester City on Friday evening.
“I’m so happy to have helped the team which is the most important thing, first and foremost,” says Balagizi.
“On a personal note it was great to get the hat-trick and it’s a nice feeling.
"Leicester are a good side and we had to work hard to get the win - and thankfully with the spirit and the togetherness of the team we were able to do that."
Balagizi, who moved to the Academy from Manchester City in 2015 and made his England U18 debut last month, had come close a number of times to scoring in 6-1 win at Leeds United last weekend, not least when having a penalty saved.
But the teenager was in unstoppable form against Leicester, his second goal a showcase for his dribbling talents and direct running.
“When I got the ball in the box, I just had one thing on my mind and I knew I had to go for goal," he says. "So I was direct when I got it and thankfully it paid off.”
Max Woltman scored twice for the third game in a row as the Marc Bridge-Wilkinson's side set up a home tie with Arsenal in the quarter-finals.
“That is going to be a good game," says Balagizi, speaking to liverpoolfc.com.
“Arsenal are a good side but we are looking forward to it, we are in good form and hopefully we can continue to do well.”
